The triumph of continuity : the Christian democrats, west German Ostpolitik and the cold war

Abstract

After thirteen long years in opposition, the West German Christian Democrats returned to power in the fall of 1982. At the time, it was widely discussed whether a turn in relations with Eastern Europe had to be expected since the Christian Democrats had been staunch opponents of Willy Brandt`s Neue Ostpolitik. Today, there is a scholarly consensus that a change did not occur. Consequently, this thesis addresses the questions when, why, and how did the West German Christian Democrats (namely the CDU and the CSU), cross the ostpolitikal Rubicon? The thesis highlights the various developments and changes that influenced the conduct of Ostpolitik from 1969-1983, and particularly from 1974-1983, over the course of four chapters. The main argument is that Ostpolitik had become a national policy by the mid- to late-1970s, once the Christian Democrats finally had accepted the premise of the Eastern Treaties as the foundation for West German foreign policy. While there still were strands within the CDU, and especially within the CSU, that voiced their criticism and demanded an ostpolitikal turnaround, these strands constituted a vocal minority. In the best outcome, Willy Brandt`s Neue Ostpolitik was complementary to Konrad Adenauer`s Westbindung. Finding the right balance between these two cornerstones of West German foreign policy was a delicate balancing act throughout the Cold War. Whereas the balancing act was managed with remarkable success during Brandt`s chancellorship and initially also under his successor Helmut Schmidt, the international climate changed significantly during the late 1970s, which necessitated rethinking the balance between Westbindung and Ostpolitik. Ultimately, a leftwards drift among the West German Social Democrats opened the door for the Christian Democrats to return to power, with the liberal party FDP being the harbinger of stability. The turn in the fall of 1982 was therefore a return where change facilitated continuity